Avon and Somerset Police
Avon and Somerset Police is a progressive and caring organisation of over 6,000 people.
As the seventh largest police force in England and Wales, we serve a population of more than 1.65 million, across a large and diverse area.
We have over 3,000 police officers, PCSOs and special constables, we also employ thousands of people in a variety of staff roles.
There has been a police force serving the Avon and Somerset area for more than 180 years. In 1835, the Municipal Corporation Act gave towns and cities the power to create their own professional police forces.
Bath and Bristol were among the first cities in the country to form their own police forces. Our first police officers would have worn a uniform of a top hat, blue swallow-tailed coat and white dress trousers, with a cape or greatcoat.
They were equipped with a rattle, a wooden truncheon and a wicker lunch basket with access to cutlasses and handcuffs in case they got into some serious trouble.
Bath Constabulary was the first to form in 1836, followed later the same year by Bristol. Bridgwater and Chard formed a constabulary in 1839 and in 1940 they become part of the Somerset Constabulary.
Avon and Somerset Police as we know it today formed in 1974 from the merger of the former Somerset and Bath Constabulary with the Bristol police force and the Staple Hill division of Gloucestershire Constabulary.
Why work for us
If you are looking for a fresh challenge, a unique opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives, and the chance to broaden your experience in an organisation that genuinely cares about its employees, Avon and Somerset Police is for you.Our inclusive culture
We are looking for people who share our values of caring, inclusive, courageous and learning. To enable us to deliver outstanding policing for everyone, we need people from all backgrounds with a range of professional and life experiences so that we are truly representative of our communities. We have a team of Outreach Workers whose role it is to help identify and break down barriers which may be preventing people from underrepresented communities from joining the police service. They also support and mentor people through the application and training process.The types of roles we have
At Avon & Somerset Police we have a fantastic and varied range of roles available. We are investing in new technologies and the opportunities within our organisation are often leading the way. Roles can be so varied you’d never realise until you start looking.
Frontline staff are the obvious choices where you will have a unique and rewarding career, building connections in communities and providing a dedicated link between the police and the public.
We have many back office roles from Accounts, vetting, analysts and communications to payroll and IT.
Several of our roles allow hybrid working which is encouraged.
Find out more about Jobs and Volunteering
Keep an eye on our regional Jobs Fairs
